News - HBO's It: Welcome to Derry has a link to Stephen King's The Shining

During the NYCC panel, Chris Chalk provided more of an insight into how his younger version of Dick Hallorann differs from the portrayals we've seen thus far. \"Welcome to Derry\" will present a younger, more rough-around-the-edges version of the character, with Chalk saying, \"Dick thinks all of these [Derry residents] are corny. He doesn't respect a single one of them, and that's the journey of Dick.\" As Chalk went on to say, \"The Dick you know is super nice ... Good luck with this Dick.\" \n\nWhat exactly Hallorann is doing in Derry prior to co-founding the Black Spot isn't entirely clear, but Chalk addressed that question, too: \"Dick is in Derry because Dick f****d up, and that's the truth. You'll see the show and you'll get that.\" According to the actor, this version of Hallorann is dealing with some internal struggles and is a long way from the more nurturing figure who guided Danny Torrance through his Overlook Hotel ordeal in \"The Shining.\" As Chalk put it, this younger Hallorann is \"at a stage when he has a different relationship with his internal self, with his spiritual world, and his biggest fear is himself and losing control.\" \n\nWith fear being such an integral theme to \"It,\" it makes sense for Hallorann to be such a big part of the upcoming series, which interrogates that theme both through Pennywise (played by a returning Bill Skarsgard) but also through the racial tensions in Derry and local residents using fear as an intimidation tactic. Hallorann represents an ideal entry point for exploring these ideas. In that sense, it would be more surprising if the Muschiettis left him out of the prequel series. \n\nThe premiere episode hits HBO on October 26, 2025.